Scottish Borders Walking Festival 2009 Press Release

5th January 2009

Launch of “In the Footsteps of the Reivers” Scottish Borders Walking Festival 2009
Part of national “Homecoming Scotland” initiative
Opportunities for local businesses

Selkirk, 5th January 2009.  Outline arrangements are announced today for one of the biggest annual tourism-related promotions in the Scottish Borders.  The 15th Scottish Borders Walking Festival will run from 5th – 13th September and will comprise a series of led walks in the Hawick and Jedburgh areas, taking in Denholm, Newcastleton and the Cheviot Hills.  Building on the success of previous Walking Festivals in the Borders, this year’s event will form part of the Scottish Government’s “Homecoming Scotland” initiative designed to encourage people from all over the world to visit Scotland during 2009, the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.  (For more information on Homecoming events in the Scottish Borders, please visit www.homecomingscotland2009.com/scottishborders.)

Traditionally, the Scottish Borders Walking Festival takes place in a different part of the Borders each year.  From this year onwards, it will also be run on a different theme.  2009’s theme will be “In the Footsteps of the Reivers” celebrating the lively and colourful Borders reiving history as well as the region’s outstanding scenery and wildlife.  

Last year, Scottish Borders Council commissioned a strategic marketing survey to review past festivals and guide future work.  The in-depth survey sought the views of previous participants as well as a range of local bodies in the Borders.  The survey revealed that the Scottish Borders Walking Festival compares very favourably with other walking festivals around the country.  The aim now is to use these findings to promote the Festival to as wide a target audience as possible.  The 2009 Festival will be the best supported yet and will provide a significant boost to the region’s economy and its on-going tourism drive.  A new focus will be put on encouraging local businesses to take advantage of commercial opportunities to get involved and make the Festival one of the best of its kind anywhere in the country.  The success of the Festival will be good news for local businesses such as hotels, B&Bs, self-catering cottages, campsites, restaurants, retail businesses, historic houses and the extensive range of visitor attractions to be found throughout the Borders.

The Scottish Borders Walking Festival is supported by Scottish Borders Council and run by the Southern Uplands Partnership.  Council Leader, Cllr David Parker, said:  “I am impressed by the organisers’ determination to build the Scottish Borders Walking Festival into one of the major walking events in the country.  The Council will play its full role in helping them achieve their ambitions, but it is vital that local people and businesses get involved, too.  As part of the “Homecoming Scotland” initiative, I am very confident that this year’s Festival will provide a welcome boost to the local economy and promote the Borders’ growing reputation for excellence as a holiday destination.”

Pip Tabor, Project Manager of the Southern Uplands Partnership, said:  “We are delighted to be involved in making this the biggest and best Walking Festival to date.  We have long argued that the Borders landscapes, culture and history are assets we should be making more of.  It is an ideal area for walkers and this year’s Walking Festival will spread the word about how special the Borders region is and attract many new visitors to the area.”

Local business man, John Henderson of Walking Support in Melrose, said:  “Walking opportunities of exceptional quality, diversity and interest have always existed in the Scottish Borders but they have not been well promoted and we are, therefore, not as well recognised as a walking destination as other parts of the UK.  An event such as “In the Footsteps of the Reivers” will change that by raising the profile of walking activities in the region.  It will bring new tourist related business to those local companies which welcome and embrace walkers and all those who enjoy the great outdoors.”
Local businesses are being encouraged to get involved early. As well as raising their profile through a range of advertising and sponsorship opportunities, businesses can also design Festival-related offers and events, which could become part of the programme.

A meeting of the Walking Committee will take place at the Cross Keys Inn in Denholm at 7pm on Thursday 15th January. Anyone wishing to get more involved, as a Walk Leader, is welcome to attend.  

For further information, please contact Sarah Mathieson on 01750 505261.

Event info

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Scottish Borders Walking Festival

The Scottish Borders Walking Festival was established in 1995.  It is hosted by a different town or area each year and receives financial and in-kind support from local agencies including Scottish Borders Council, Scottish Enterprise Borders, Scottish Natural Heritage, Southern Uplands Partnership and VisitScotland Borders.  The Festival takes place annually at the beginning of September, just outside the main tourist season.  About 75% of participants are visitors to the region ensuring benefits to the tourism and hospitality industries in and around each host town and throughout the Borders generally.
Southern Uplands Partnership

The Southern Uplands Partnership (SUP) is a charitable company established to find new ways of keeping people living and working in the rural and upland parts of the south of Scotland by developing and delivering innovative community, economic and environmental projects.

Homecoming Scotland

Homecoming Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative managed by EventScotland,
the national events agency, in partnership with VisitScotland, the country's national tourism agency.

Robert Burns is the inspiration for Homecoming Scotland as 2009 is the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet.

Homecoming Scotland is aimed at the worldwide Scottish diaspora and designed to encourage as many of them as possible to visit Scotland in 2009.  The Scottish Borders has an extensive calendar of events planned throughout the year. The celebrations start on 25th January, so let us know if you are planning an event, or simply wish to join in the fun!

The Scottish Borders Homecoming Scotland Programme includes three major events.   Return to the Ridings, a celebration of the centuries old tradition and stunning spectacle of the Border Common Ridings & Festivals; In the Footsteps of the Reivers – the Scottish Borders Walking Festival, a fascinating look at the rich and bloody history of the Border Reivers across the distinctive landscape that was their home; the Clan Scott Gathering, an exciting four day programme full of history, music, colour, drama – and fun whether you're a Scott or not.
 
Visit www.homecomingscotland2009.com/scottishborders for full information on these major events and all the wide range of local events Homecoming events taking place in the Scottish Borders.
www.homecomingscotland2009.com/scottishborders
www.ourscottishborders.com.

For further information on the Scottish Borders Walking Festival, please contact:

Sarah Mathieson, sarah@vantageevents.co.uk
Kate Pearson, kpearson@scotborders.gov.uk
Pip Tabor, piptabor@sup.org.uk
Pip is available for interviews all week. Please telephone 01750 725154 to arrange a suitable time.